Organic light-emtting diode light extraction layer having graded index of refraction

ABSTRACT

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure includes a stack of OLED layers that includes a light emission zone having a planar portion, and a light extraction layer formed of a UV-cured ink disposed over the light emission zone of the stack of OLED layers. The light extraction layer has a gradient in index of refraction along an axis normal to the planar portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/931,760, filed on Nov. 6, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to fabrication of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display devices.

BACKGROUND

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED or Organic LED), also known as an organic EL (organic electroluminescent) diode, is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound that emits light in response to an electric current. This organic layer is situated between two electrodes; typically, at least one of these electrodes is transparent. OLEDs are used to create digital displays in devices such as television screens, computer monitors, portable systems such as smartwatches, smartphones, handheld game consoles, PDAs, and laptops.

An OLED display can be driven with a passive-matrix (PMOLED) or active-matrix (AMOLED) control schemes. In the PMOLED scheme, each row (and line) in the display is controlled sequentially, one by one, whereas AMOLED control uses a thin-film transistor backplane to directly access and switch each individual pixel on or off, allowing for faster response, higher resolution, and larger display sizes.

AMOLED displays are attractive for high pixel density, superior image quality, and thin form factor in comparison to conventional LCD displays. AMOLED displays are self-emissive devices that can be made with thin film process, on thin and flexible substrates, and do not require backlights as used in LCD displays. In addition to superior power efficiency over LCD devices, AMOLED devices are noted for features such as “Consuming-Power-only-when-Lighting-Up,” and “Consuming-only-the-needed-Power-Corresponding-to-the-Emitting-Intensity”. AMOLED displays have thus been viewed as an attractive display technology for battery powered portable products.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure includes a stack of OLED layers that includes a light emission zone having a planar portion, and a light extraction layer formed of a UV-cured ink disposed over the light emission zone of the stack of OLED layers. The light extraction layer has a gradient in index of refraction along an axis normal to the planar portion.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features.

The index of refraction of the light extraction layer may decrease with distance from the planar portion. The light extraction layer may include a stack of sublayers with successive sublayers in the stack having different indices of refraction.

A UV blocking layer may be positioned between the light extraction layer and the stack of OLED layers. The LEL layer may have a thickness of up to 5 μm and the UV blocking layer may have a thickness of 50-500 nm.

A dielectric layer may include an array of well structures each having oblique side walls and a floor. The well structures may be separated by plateaus, and each well may be at least partially filled by the light extraction layer. A mirror layer may be positioned between the dielectric layer and the stack of OLED layers.

The light extraction layer may include includes organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles in a matrix material. Loading of the organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles may varies along the axis normal to the planar portion.to provide the gradient in index of refraction. The organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles include one or more of ZrO, ZrOC, AIO, AlOC, TiO, TiOC, ZnO, or ZnOC.

In another aspect, a method for manufacturing an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure includes depositing a succession of layers of UV-curable fluid of different refractive index over a UV blocking layer that is over a stack of OLED layers, and curing the layer of UV-curable fluid with UV light to form a light extraction layer (LEL) having a gradient in index of refraction along an axis normal to a planar portion of a light emission zone of the stack of OLED layers.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features.

Depositing the succession of layers of UV-curable fluid may be accomplished by ejecting droplets of the UV-curable fluid from a nozzle. The droplets may be ejected to at least partially fill a plurality of wells in a dielectric layer. The layer of UV-curable fluid may be deposited by successively forming a plurality of sublayers in each well. Forming a sublayer of the plurality of sublayers may include ejecting one or more droplets of the UV-curable fluid into the well and curing the fluid before forming a subsequent sublayer.

The droplets may include a solution of organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles. Droplets for different layers of the succession of layers may have different concentrations of the organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles in the solution to provide the different refractive indexes. The organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles include one or more of ZrO, ZrOC, AIO, AlOC, TiO, TiOC, ZnO, or ZnOC.

The succession of layers may be deposited with a successively decreasing index of refraction.

Advantages may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following.

One or more layers in an LED device, e.g., a light extraction layer (LEL), may be fabricated using UV-curable inks. This permits the use of droplet ejection techniques that use UV-curing to deposit the layer(s), which in turn can permit manufacturing at higher throughput and/or lower cost.

The details of one or more aspects of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1B show examples of schematic cross-sectional views of a top emission OLED pixel with a patterned/structured light extraction layer of index matching material.

FIG. 1C shows an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of an array of top emission OLED pixels with the patterned/structured light extraction layer of index matching material.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of a top emission OLED pixel with an UV-Blocking layer underneath the patterned/structured light extraction layer.

FIGS. 3A-3G show examples of organic materials suitable for the UV-blocking layer.

FIG. 4A illustrates filling an OLED well with UV-curable ink droplets.

FIG. 4B shows an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of a top emission OLED pixel with light extraction layer having a gradient in the index of refraction.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An OLED is a two-terminal thin film device with a stack of organic layers including a light emitting organic layer sandwiched between two electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is transparent, thus allowing the emitted light to pass through. Typically, an encapsulation or passivation covers the OLED stack. Due to mismatch of optic parameters in the OLED stack and the encapsulation or passivation layer thereon, significant efficiency loss can occur. In addition, in a conventional device configuration with a stack of planar layers, significant light can be absorbed by the support substrate or escape at low angles.

An internal quantum efficiency (IQE) quantifies the ratio of the number of converted photons and the number of input electrons whereas the external quantum efficiency (EQE) indicates the ratio of number of emitted and extracted photons that have been converted from the number of input electrons. In this context, even though IQE can be almost perfect, EQE can be far from ideal because significant amount of emitting light can be trapped inside the OLED display or waveguided along horizontal direction (in parallel to the substrate). In one example, even with ideal IQE (e.g., about 100% for phosphorescent materials), an EQE of about 20 to 25% has been realized in commercial OLED with conventional device configurations. In addition to optical energy loss to output emission, the light trapped inside can also be waveguided to neighbor pixels and can be scattered into front view, causing “light leakage” or “optical crosstalk”, and reducing display sharpness and contrast.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, one solution to this problem is to form the OLED stack in a well structure 103, with mirrors along the bottom 103B and portions of the oblique sidewalls 103A of the well and a patterned light extraction layer 108 filling the well. Examples of a top-emitting OLED structure are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The OLED structure is formed on a support substrate 100, which optionally can be removed following the fabrication process.

The well can be provided by a recess in a dielectric pixel defining layer (PDL) 111 that is disposed over the support substrate 100. The pixel defining layer (PDL) 111 can be formed after a pixel driving circuit made with one or more thin film transistors (TFTs) is formed on the substrate 100. The PDL 111 can be a polymeric material, e.g., can be formed by depositing a layer of photoresist material. The layer of polymeric material is then selectively patterned to form recesses that will provide the wells. The top surface PDL provides a plateau that separates the individual OLED subpixels within the devices.

A conductive anode 101 is formed at the bottom 103B of or below the well structure 103. The anode 101 can extend up a portion of the oblique side walls 103A of the well. The anode 101 can be silver and/or another reflective conductive material, or can be from a conductive non-reflective material that is coated with a conductive optically reflective material. In some implementations, the anode 101 is sufficiently reflective to serve as a mirror.

The anode 101 can be processed before the PDL 111 and formed after a thin film transistor (TFT) is formed on substrate 100. For example, the thin film transistor can include conductive terminals for the gate, drain and source regions of the transistor. Here, the anode 101 can be disposed over the TFT and arranged in electrical contact with the drain of the TFT by, for example, conductive vias through a dielectric layer.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the anode 101 can be formed after the pixel defining layer (PDL) 111 is deposited and patterned. A portion of the anode 101 can extend partially or fully up the oblique sidewalls 103A into the region of the PDL slope, for example, e.g., in area 101A. Thus, the anode 101 is spaced from the top of the recess (i.e., the top of the plateau). As a result, the mirror provided by the anode 101 can extend partially or fully up the oblique sidewalls 103A.

Alternatively, the anode 101 can be deposited before the PDL 111. A portion of the anode 101 can extend below the pixel defining layer (PDL) 111. For example, the anode 202 can be deposited only in the area of the flat bottom region 103B. In this case, a separate mirror layer can be formed that covers the bottom 103B of the well and extends partially or fully up the oblique sidewalls 103A.

Assuming the anode 101 is formed over the PDL 111, a transparent dielectric layer 102 can be formed over a portion of the anode 101 and over exposed portions of the PDL 111. The aperture in the dielectric layer 102 will define an emission area for the OLED. The dielectric layer 102 can be formed using photoresist type of material. As illustrated, the dielectric layer 102 can cover the anode 101 at the outer edge of the bottom 103B of the well and on the oblique sidewalls 103A. But otherwise, extension of the dielectric layer 102 into the bottom 103B of the well is generally minimized.

An OLED layer stack 104 that includes a light emission zone 107 is formed over the anode 101. The OLED layer stack 104, for example, in a top emitting OLED stack, can include an electron injection layer (EIL), an electron transport layer, a hole blocking layer, a light emissive layer (EML), an electron blocking layer (EBL), a hole transport layer (HTL), and a hole injection layer (HIL), although this is just one possible set of layers. The lowest layer of the OLED stack 104 is in electrical contact with the anode 101, either directly or through a conductive mirror layer disposed on the anode. The portion of the light emissive layer (EML) above the region of the anode 101 exposed through the aperture in the dielectric layer 102 can provide the light emission zone 107.

Another transparent electrode 106, e.g., the cathode, can be formed over the OLED stack 104. The top layer of the OLED stack 104 is in electrical contact with the cathode 106. The transparent electrode 106 is below the

A capping layer (CPL) can be placed on top of the cathode 106. CPLs are typically organic materials similar to non-EML OLED layers. A passivation layer can be deposited on the CPL layer.

The electrode 106 can be a continuous layer covering the entire display and connecting to all pixels. In comparison, the anode 101 is not made continuous so that independent control of each OLED can be achieved. This permits subpixel control; each pixel can include three subpixels of different colors, e.g., R, G, and B.

In implementations in which the anode 101 serves as sidewall mirrors (e.g., deposited along the slopes of the PDL), the emission area can be further controlled by placing the dielectric layer 102 over such sidewall mirrors. The extent of the dielectric layer 102 can be varied. In general, OLED emission is highly dependent on layer thicknesses. The dielectric layer 102 allows suppression of emission from the OLED structure formed on the sidewalls (during device fabrication) where the thickness differences between sidewall and bottom of the well can result in inconsistent emission characteristics, including emission spectra and color coordinates.

The OLED structure further has an index-matching filling material 108 disposed inside the concave area of well structure 103. The top surface 108 a of the index-matching filling material/layer can be flat (see FIG. 1A) or curved/non-planar (see FIG. 1B). Through a proper device design, by introducing the mirror around the OLED emission zone and the light extraction layer (through index-matching material in the concavity), EQE can be improved by a factor of 2-3 from the conventional OLED design. As a result, the power consumption of an OLED display in portable applications can be reduced by a commensurate factor of 2 to 3, which allows using a smaller, lighter weight rechargeable battery and achieves faster charging time than that used in the current mobile devices such as touch-screen phones, pads, and laptops. In a similar vein, the same mobile device with high efficient OLED display can run a much longer time (for example, slightly less than a factor of 2-3) on a single charge of the original battery. Another benefit of such highly efficient pixel architecture is longer lifetime of the devices as the pixels will achieve desired brightness with lower current and voltage, which leads to lower degradation phenomena. Yet another benefit is the technical feasibility of achieving higher pixel density as the higher EQE enables smaller emitting area to achieve the same brightness as before.

However, the newly added light extraction layer (LEL) may not be manufacturable at a commercially viable price using conventional techniques. This added layer calls for additional processes and corresponding tools. In particular, it would be desirable to deposit the filler layer using droplet ejection techniques, e.g., a 3D printing techniques using droplet ejection. The liquid material to be ejected as droplets is often called an “ink”, although it need not (and typically would not) include pigmentation.

One type of filling “ink” promising for the LEL is a solution including organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles with or without surface passivated with organic linking units (named “MO ink” in more detail below). This type of filling ink has high solid loading (e.g., high percentage ratio of forming solid/ink volume which may be in slurry mixture) and tunable dielectric constant to potentially maximize the output emission. The curing method involves exposing the filling inks to UV radiation along with a duration of post annealing time at an elevated temperature. Unfortunately, UV exposure dose required for curing of the LEL precursor material can be harmful to the OLED structure underneath.

To address the manufacturing challenge caused by the UV-curing ink for the index matching material of the light extracting layer (LEL), the present disclosure proposes solutions that introduces a UV-blocking layer underneath the LEL layer so that UV-curable inks can be adopted for the patterned LEL layer without compromising the performance of the OLED stack underneath. Both organic and inorganic materials can be used for the UV-blocking layer.

In addition, an appropriate surface profile or a hydrophobic surface can be provided that enables mis-aligned ink droplets during manufacturing to fall back into the well by means of gravity and the surface property of the top of the dome (as discussed in further detail in FIG. 4B below). These techniques can be used in conjunction with or independent of the UV-blocking layer deposited over the OLED stack (as discussed in further detail in FIG. 2 below).

Moreover, with the inkjet process of the present disclosure, a patterned LEL layer can be formed with a gradient in the index of refraction. The inkjet printing or slot-die coating with multiple coating steps enables the patterned LEL with gradient index and with integration with the covering glass (or touch panel in on-cell touch configuration).

FIG. 1C shows the cross-sectional view of an array 110 of OLED pixels arranged in a layered structure 112 on substrate 100.

Further referring to FIG. 2, a cross-section view of an OLED structure 200A illustrates an UV-blocking layer 202 between the top-surface 104A of the OLED layer 104 and the patterned LEL layer 108. Except as discussed below, the OLED structure 200A can be similar to the OLED structure 100A and 100B discussed with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The OLED structure 200A is formed on a substrate 100 and includes an array of well structures 103, each including the bottom region 103B and sidewall region 103A. The well structures 103 are separated by the plateau 105. As discussed above, the dielectric layer 102 is formed on the slopes of the PDL 111 and extends to the edge area of the bottom region 103B, although extension into the recess bottom region is possible but generally minimized.

The anode 101 is formed in the bottom region 103B and can extend partially up the sidewalls 103A. As noted above, the anode 101 can be reflective, or can be a conductive non-reflective material that is coated with a conductive optically reflective material.

In more detail, the floor of each well structure 103 is a bottom flat surface above substrate 100, which represents the flat top metal surface formed during thin film transistor (TFT) circuit process (such as the metal layer used for source and drain electrode of a thin film transistor TFT). A mirror layer 101M can be formed over anode 101. The mirror layer 101M may use silver (Ag) or other reflective metal. Alternatively, the anode can be a transparent conductive material deposited over a conductive or non-conductive reflective layer. For example, the anode 101 can be a conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) deposited on top of the reflective mirror layer 101M. For an anode of an OLED, internal total reflection is desired.

In some implementations, the anode is limited to the bottom region 103B. In some implementations, the anode also extends partially or fully up the sloped sidewalls 103A of the recess. In some implementations, the mirror layer 101M is a conductive reflective metal that extends onto the sloped sidewalls 103A of the recess. This conductive reflective metal, which is formed on top of the initial anode, can lead to a potential new anode on the bottom/floor region of the pixel. As discussed above, a transparent dielectric layer 102 can be deposited and patterned to eliminate electrical excitation and light emission from the sidewall region 103A.

The cathode 106 can be a continuous layer that is unpatterned and transparent. In a top emitting configuration, the light extraction layer (LEL) 108 is on top of the UV-blocking layer 202, which, in turn, is on top of the cathode 106. In this configuration, a passivation layer can be deposited on the capping layer (CPL) layer which is right above the cathode 106.

As illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 1A to 1C, the LEL layer 108 is disposed over the OLED stack 104 and top cathode 106. The LEL layer 108 at least partially fills each well. In some implementations, the LEL layer 108A “overfills” the well so as to form a convex top surface 109 that projects above the top surface of the plateaus 105.

Between the top surface 104A the OLED layer stack 104 and the patterned LEL 108 is a UV-blocking layer 202. The UV-blocking layer 202 can be formed with a similar process used for forming an OLED layer (such as physical vapor deposition), or by a different process (such as chemical vapor deposition). The UV blocking layer 202 can also be formed by a coating method, e.g., spin-coating. The UV blocking layer 202 has strong absorption at the UV wavelength used for processing the LEL layer 108/108 a (e.g., at least 90% to 100% absorption). The UV-blocking layer 202 can be relatively thin, e.g., 50 to 500 nm thick. Examples of materials for the UV blocking layer 202 can be found below. The desired process for depositing the UV blocking layer may depend on the material chosen. In general, an evaporative process can be advantageous because sputtering or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) may lead to additional device damaging elements (for example, plasma in sputtering, contaminants and possibly plasma in CVD/PECVD).

Although a passivation layer can be deposited on the CPL layer, in some implementations the UV blocking layer also functions as the passivation layer and a separate passivation layer on the CPL layer is not required. In this case, the UV blocking layer can function as permeation blocking layer for the potential wet LEL deposition, like ink jet printing (IJP).

Both organic and inorganic materials can be used for the UV-blocking layer. Example of organic materials that can be used for UV-blocking layer include: N,N′-Bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N′-diphenylbenzidine, TPD(3.18 eV); N,N′-Di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine, NPB(3.0 eV); N,N′-Bis(phenanthren-9-yl)-N,N′-bis(phenyl)-benzidine, PAPB (or PPD); 4,7-Diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, BPhen(3.0 eV); Bis(8-hydroxy-2-methylquinoline)-(4-phenylphenoxy)aluminum, BAlq(3.0 eV), Tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum, Alq(2.8 eV); Tetracene, C8H12(3.0 eV); 4-phenyl, 4P(3.1 eV); 6-phenyl, 6P(3.1 eV), and the like (number in the bracket representing absorption edge). The molecular structures of these structures are shown in FIG. 3.

This type of organic materials is often known as charge transport molecules (either hole transport or electron transport) in the field of organic thin film devices such as organic light emitting diodes. The energy gap can be tuned to desired wavelength by molecular structure engineering while maintain the processability (for example, by thermal deposition) of the material. Example includes TPD, NPB, and PAPB (or PPD). By replacing -methylphenyl group with -naphthyl group or -phnathrene group, the onset of the absorption band can be effectively tuned. In addition to tuning the phenyl group, bandgap engineering can also be achieved by replacing the —H atom on benzene ring with —OH or —CN group. Another characteristic of this type of organic materials is the high absorption coefficients. For example, absorption coefficients over 10⁵ cm⁻¹ are often seen in this type of molecules due to its direct type of energy gap between UV absorption bands. At this absorption level, UV radiation intensity can be attenuated by 10 times with a UV-blocking layer of 100 nm thickness and by 100 times with a UV-blocking film of 200 nm in thickness. These materials are thus excellent candidates for the UV-blocking layer (202) underneath the LEL (105/105 a). When selecting the composition with multiple sub-groups comprising different number of phenyl rings (for example, NPB), broad-absorption can be achieved over entire UV radiation from a Hg lamp (from UV-I to UV-III bands). Since the organic material used for the UV blocking layer can also be used for the charge transport layer in the OLED stack, the same deposition tool can be used.

The UV blocking layer can also be formed with another type of organic molecules known as engineering polymers. Examples include, but are not limited, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, PMMA and their derivatives. This type of engineering polymers have absorption edge close to 3.1 eV and block UV light effectively.

Examples of inorganic material suitable for the UV-blocking layer 202 include MoO₃, MnO₂, NiO, WO₃, AlZnO, and alloy oxides comprising these materials. These films can be fabricated with thermal or other type of physical deposition method without damaging the OLED device underneath.

Combination of the materials as discussed above in multiple layer stack or in blend form can also be used for the UV-absorption layer 202. The thickness of the UV-blocking layer can be chosen in range of 50-500 nm, depending on the absorption coefficient of the UV-blocking layer and the attenuation level for the UV-dose needed for the LEL ink curing.

Metal-oxide and/or organometallic compound based LEL layer 105/105 a can be formed with inks with corresponding organometallic precursors, examples of such inks include ZrO, ZrOC, AIO, AlOC, TiO, TiOC, ZnO, ZnOC, and the combination in blend form (denoted as MO/MOC inks in the following text). Such compounds are characterized with refractive index higher than that of the organic layers in OLED stack. Keeping certain amount of carbon atoms in the forming LEL (i.e., the metal-OC compounds above) may achieve the index matching between the LEL and OLED stack. As a reference point, metal oxide such as ZrO or TiO2 can have refraction index substantially higher than a target value (for example, n=1.82). With the amount of carbon (C), the n can be tuned within a range from approximately 2.2 down to approximately 1.8.

The solid loading of the metal-oxide nano-particles are typically in range of 20-80% (e.g., percentage ratio of forming solid/ink volume). Alcohols such as isopropanol alcohol (IPA) and glycol ethers such as propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) can be used as the solvents for this type of MO/MOC inks. To reduce the damage to the OLED underneath, H₂O molecules can be removed from the solvent during the ink preparation. Printing the ink under low humidity (such as under dry air, N2 or Ar) or with a moderate substrate temperature in 40-60° C. range may also be used to minimize performance reduction of the OLED underneath. In one illustration, using a 1-10 pl nozzle head, a drop volume may be achieved for the emitting pixels for portable display products (˜25 um×25 um×2 um˜10⁻¹⁵ m³˜10⁻¹²1=1 pl). Larger nozzle head can be used for desk-top and wall-hanging displays with larger pixel pitches. The desirable solid content can be achieved with smaller nozzle head with multiple ink drops at each stop, or with a large nozzle head with single drop for each well. Nozzle array is often used to improve the throughput to achieve ˜1 minute/substrate tact time for mass-production.

For example, an LEL forming process over the UV-blocking layer includes a printing process, a solvent removal and pre-dry process under a moderate temperature (50-100° C.) for a brief time (a few minutes). Pre-baking in a chamber under controlled environment and with reduced pressure can reduce the process time. The dried LEL array can then undergo an UV exposure for crosslink with dose in ˜0.1-10 J/cm². A final setting process is carried out at elevated temperature (for example, in 70-130° C. for 5-30 minutes).

Referring to FIG. 4A, in a 3D printing process, the LEL layer 108 can be formed by successively depositing and curing multiple sublayers 400, with the stack of sublayers providing the LEL layer 108. A sublayer can correspond to a single scan of a printhead 410 having a nozzle 412 and curing of the ejected droplets 420 from the printhead. In some implementations, for each well, a sublayer of the LEL can be formed with multiple drops of the ink. Alternatively, each sublayer within the LEL layer 108 for a given well can be formed with a single drop per sublayer; due to surface tension the drop can spread out to cover the width of the well. In some implementations, the well is filled with the liquid precursor for the LEL and the entire well is cured at once, rather than sublayer by sublayer.

Referring to FIG. 4B, with the inkjet process of the present disclosure, a patterned LEL layer 108′ can be formed with a gradient from top to bottom in the index of refraction. In particular, the LEL layer 108′ can have a plurality of sublayers 400, with successive sublayers having different indices of refraction. The inkjet printing or slot-die coating with multiple coating steps enables the patterned LEL with gradient index and with integration with the covering glass (or touch panel in on-cell touch configuration). In particular, the drops in the consecutive scans to form successive sublayers, e.g., sublayers 400 a, 400 b, 400 c, can use inks with a consecutively lower refraction index than the previous scan (by increasing the C/O ratio, or by changing MO composition with multiple metals with different refraction index). As a result successive layers 400 a, 400 b, 400 c, can have successively lower indexes of refraction. The wetting effect of the dropping ink on the receiving MO/MOC film can be used for further tuning the gradient profile. Eventually a patterned LEL array can be formed with the refraction index matching to that of the OLED stack (with refraction index of ˜1.75-1.82), and the index of the LEL top surface with an index matching to a protection glass (such as, for example, the Gorilla glass, a Corning brand, used in many mobile phones with refraction index ˜1.52). For example, the cross-section profile of the gradient index can be controlled by ink properties, and by the detail printing conditions. Thus, with a dedicated design, the desired view angle dependencies can be achieved for different applications. For example, larger view angle is preferred for monitors and wall-hanging large size TVs. Narrow view angle is preferred for entertaining displays in commercial airplanes. Moderate view angle with strong emission intensity in front view direction is preferred for palm size mobile phones of which the optimized front view performance allows longer operation time per battery charging.

As used herein, the term “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other configurations disclosed herein.

As used herein, the terms “about” and “approximately” are meant to cover variations that may exist in the upper and lower limits of the ranges of values, such as variations in properties, parameters, and dimensions. In one non-limiting example, the terms “about” and “approximately” mean plus or minus 10 percent or less.

The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, and it should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should be further understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure comprising: a stack of OLED layers that includes a light emission zone having a planar portion; and a light extraction layer comprising a UV-cured ink disposed over the light emission zone of the stack of OLED layers, the light extraction layer having a gradient in index of refraction along an axis normal to the planar portion.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the index of refraction of the light extraction layer decreases with distance from the planar portion.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the light extraction layer includes a stack of sublayers with successive sublayers in the stack having different indices of refraction.
 4. The structure of claim 1, comprising a UV blocking layer between the light extraction layer and the stack of OLED layers.
 5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the LEL layer has a thickness of up to 5 μm and the UV blocking layer has a thickness of 50-500 nm.
 6. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric layer having an array of well structures, wherein each well structure includes oblique side walls and a floor and the well structures are separated by plateaus, and wherein each well is at least partially filled by the light extraction layer.
 7. The structure of claim 6, further comprising a mirror layer between the dielectric layer and the stack of OLED layers.
 8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the light extraction layer includes organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles in a matrix material.
 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein loading of the organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles varies along the axis normal to the planar portion.to provide the gradient in index of refraction.
 10. The structure of claim 8, wherein the organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles include one or more of ZrO, ZrOC, AIO, AlOC, TiO, TiOC, ZnO, or ZnOC.
 11. A method for manufacturing an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure, the method comprising: depositing a succession of layers of UV-curable fluid of different refractive index over a UV blocking layer that is over a stack of OLED layers; and curing the layer of UV-curable fluid with UV light to form a light extraction layer (LEL) having a gradient in index of refraction along an axis normal to a planar portion of a light emission zone of the stack of OLED layers.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein depositing the succession of layers of UV-curable fluid comprises ejecting droplets of the UV-curable fluid from a nozzle.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the droplets are ejected to at least partially fill a plurality of wells in a dielectric layer.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein depositing the layer of UV-curable fluid comprises successively forming a plurality of sublayers in each well.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein forming a sublayer of the plurality of sublayers comprises ejecting one or more droplets of the UV-curable fluid into the well and curing the fluid before forming a subsequent sublayer.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the droplets include a solution of organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein droplets for different layers of the succession of layers have different concentrations of the organo-metallic molecules or metal-oxide nano-particles in the solution to provide the different refractive indexes.
 18. The method of claim 11, comprising depositing the succession of layers with a successively decreasing index of refraction.
 19. An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, comprising: a substrate having a driving circuitry; a dielectric pixel defining layer disposed on the substrate, the pixel defining layer having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of OLEDs formed in the plurality of wells, each OLED of the plurality of OLEDs formed in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells and including an anode formed at a bottom of the well, a stack of OLED layers disposed on the anode, a cathode disposed on the stack of OLED layers, and a light extraction layer (LEL) comprising a UV-cured ink disposed over the UV blocking layer to at least partially fill the well, the light extraction layer having a gradient in index of refraction along an axis normal to the bottom of the well.
 20. The display of claim 19, wherein the index of refraction of the light extraction layer decreases with distance from the planar portion. 